Two Cornelius-based arts organizations have completed their long-planned merger to form the Community Arts Project, headquartered in the old Oak Street Mill and offering classes for children and adults.
The organization will host a public reception this evening, Friday, Sept. 11, from 7-9 p.m., for a new exhibit of paintings by artist Manny Rashet. Also below, our calendar of events at local art galleries.
COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT
Kim Beard.
The Community Arts Project brings together the Children’s Arts Project and the Creative Art Exchange, two organizations that share space in the Cornelius Arts Center, in the Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., behind the Cornelius police station.
“We are finally merged,” executive director Kim Beard said in a recent interview.
The groups announced their planned merger a year ago. Their decision to combine followed a strategic review conducted by the organizations’ boards, with help of a Charlotte-based consultant, the Lee Institute.
Ms. Beard said the merger allowed the two non-profit groups to combine personnel and resources, eliminate overlapping programs, and create a new, stronger arts organization. “We offered the same types of programs and we could combine resources,” she said.
The decision to merge came “before the economy turned south,” she said, but it has proven to be a good one.
The groups applied as one for grants from the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte this year, and were among the few who received their full request. Together they got $17,500, which nonetheless was less than a year earlier. (See June 23, 2009, “ASC grant news is mixed for local groups.”)
The Community Arts Project also works hand-in-hand with the Town of Cornelius Parks & Recreation. The town supplies the group’s home in the old mill and provides programming, marketing and other support.
The project has 6 employees and is overseen by a board of directors.
A new series of classes in drawing and painting, ceramics, children’s art, and other subjects begins Sept. 14. For registration information, visit the project website, which now offers online registration.
RASHET EXHIBIT OPENING
Tonight’s exhibit opening at the Community Arts Project features the work of Manny Rashet. Mr. Rashet is a local artist who practiced pediatric medicine for 34 years in Belleville, Ill. As he neared retirement, he began drawing and painting again. He lives with his wife, Nancy, in Cornelius, where he teaches painting classes in his home studio. His work has also been displayed at the Cotton Ketchie Art Show in Mooresville and won a best of show at Boundless Art, held at The Art Institute of Charlotte.
LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE SHOW
Lake Norman Art League invites artists to submit works for its “2009 Fall Exhibit.” Take-in will be today, Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12. Download a prospectus and entry form (PDF) at www.lknart.org.
The art league gallery is in South Main Square, 442 S. Main St., next to Masterworks School of the Arts.
Meanwhile, the Lake Norman Art League is now accepting new and renewing memberships for 2009-10. Dues are $35 for individuals, $50 households. Extra donations are welcome, to help buy a new gallery hanging system. Download a membership application on the website.
GALLERIES & ART EVENTS
MONDAYS, 6-9 p.m., Community Arts Project, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius – open figure drawing sessions, hosted by David Smith. $10 model fee. Contact davidbsmith@bellsouth.net to be added to the notification list.
DAVIDSON COLLEGE VISUAL ARTS CENTER, Smith Gallery, Davidson College, 315 N. Main St., at Griffith St. – Aug. 27 to Oct. 7: “2009 Studio Art Faculty Exhibition” with etchings of human forms by Herb Jackson, bronze models of monumental public art sculptures by Cort Savage and prints and video by Rebekah Tolley. Also, Aug. 28 to Oct. 7, “Cristina Toro: Alive on the Intricate Earth Under Trees,” in the Smith Gallery, with paintings by the Puerto Rico-born artist from upstate NY. Hours: Weekdays, 11-4.
CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., behind the police station, Cornelius – Through Aug. 28: Community Arts Project (formerly Children’s Arts Project and Creative Art Exchange) summer exhibit “Kids Create,” with work by participants in summer camps. Sept. 7- Oct. 30: paintings by Manny Rashet. Free opening reception Friday, Sept. 11, 7-9 p.m. Gallery open Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a,.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org
ARTWORKS ON MAIN, 165 N. Main St., Mooresville – Oil paintings by Marlise Newman, of Charlotte. She’s the featured artist during the September Gallery Crawl, Friday, Sept. 11, 6-9 p.m. Music by Billy Jones. 704-664-2414. www.artworksonmain.com
MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERIES, 463 S. Main St. – “The Summer Show,” featuring new works by gallery artists. Through August the gallery will offer rotating original art by all the gallery regulars, with major exhibits by impressionist Dee Beard Dean, expressionist Charlotte Foust, landscapes by Susan Jennings and Ray Byram, folk art by Addie James, whimsical collages by Betsey Hampton, and more. Hours: Mon-Fri 10–5, Sat 10–3. For more information call 704-895-1213 and visit the website at www.merrilljennings.com
DAVIDSON TOWN HALL Atrium Gallery, 216 S. Main St. – Through Oct. 24 Photographs by Dana Pianowski and metal sculpture by Rich Nossell. Ms. Pianowski, of Davidson, has studied at Parsons School of Design and International Center of Photography in New York. Mr. Nossell is a native of Long Island, N.Y., who now lives in Huntersville and makes custom furniture. Open weekdays during Town Hall hours, and other times during Town Hall events.
CHRISTA FAUT GALLERY, 19818 North Cove Road, Jetton Village, Cornelius – Aug. 11 to Sept. 29, an exhibit of gallery artists to celebrate the gallery’s 20th year. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment. Information: www.christafautgallery.com or 704-892-5312.
WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays/Mondays. 704-892-1449. www.woodenstonegallery.com.
SO ALIVE! GALLERY, 108 S. Main St. (next to Village Store) – New paintings by Rosa Murillo, who is in the midst of a month-long “painting-a-day” project. Her works are watercolors accented with India ink. Also: New work from Larry Dukes, Jenny Kiker, Ryan Blythe, Jason Hendrickson, Michael Joe Moore, and Nora Bouknight. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11-5; Saturday, 10-2; Sunday, 12-2; and by appointment. Info: mary@soalive.org.
